Engine-control means



3 Sheets-Sheet 5 M P CHAPLIN ENGINE CONTROL MEANS Filed Oct. 26, 1922 Nov. 10, 1925' 'We f? Chap/?. y w

lPatented Nov. l0, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MERLE PEABODY CHAPLIN,

NEW Yonx.

OF WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF ENGINE-CONTROL MEAN S.

Application ied ctober 26, 1922. Serial No.. 596,938.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MERLE PEABODY CHAP- LIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at White Plalns, 1n the county of Westchester, State of New York, have invented certain neviT and useful Improvements in Engine-Control Means, of which the following is a full, clear, concise., and exact descriptio This invention relates to speed control devices for an internal combustion engine operating a dynamo electric machine.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and eiicint speed regulatin means for the engine, the operation of'which will result in maintaining the voltage of the generator practically constant for all loads.

In accordance with the general features of this invention means are provided whereby the timer of the engine is positively moved in both directions-runder the control of a voltage responsive solenoid and by power derived vdirectly from the engine itself.

Certain embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an assembly view of the internal combustion engine and generator showin the circuit connections of the generator an parts of the timer mechanism and controlv means. l

Fig. 2 is a detail view of one form of control means.

Fig. 3 is aside view of the same. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of this mechanism when the spark is retarded.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the same mechanism when the spark is advanced.

Fig. 6 is a detail viejv. of another form of control means.

Fig. 7 isa top view of the ratchet mechanism in this control means.

An internalcombustion engine 4. operates a dynamo electric machine 5, which provides current for a` lload circuit comprising lines 6 and 7 and havig a battery 8 and a load 9 such as a number of electric llights connected in shunt thereof. About the end 10 of the cam shaft 11 of the engine is the usual timer mechanism 12 which operates the ignition under control of the end 10 which is formed as a cam member. Connected in shunt of lines 6 and 7 is a voltage responsive .tached to the p1 ong biased opening therein. Fitting loosely within thisslot is a circular projection' 21 from a lever 22. The diameter of projection 21 is somewhat less in Width than opening 20. The opposite end of lever 22 is attached to the timer mechanism 12 so that it may rotate the same to adjust the spark ot' the engine. Attached to lever 22 at 23 is a bar 24 pivoted at 25 and having extensions 26 and 27 which bear against opposite sides of cam 10 so that the rotations of this cain cause bar 24 to be continually oscillated upon pivot 25. This oscillating movement is transmitted to the lever 22 attached to bar 24 at 23. Normally this oscillating force is expended in causing the oscillation of the lower end of bar 22"and projection 21; but, when this projection is held against oscillation, movement is transmitted to the upper end of bar 22 and timer 12. The opening 21 is so biased that, if the bar 17 is raised or lowered by the action ofthe solenoid, the oscillation of leverI 22 and rejection 21 in either one direction or the oter is prevented.

Let it be supposed that the mechanism is Ain the position shown in Fig. 2, that the potential difference between 6 and 7. The

energization of solenoid 15 is thereupon increased, tending to draw in plunger 16 and to raise bar 17. The weak current in the solenoid, however, is unable to overcome the pressure of projection 22 on the left hand surface of opening 20, so that no effect is producedby the energization of the solenoid until the oscillation of projection 21 to the right allows the raising of bar 17. As the bar rises the left hand surface of opening 20 again bears against projection 21 so that the latter cannot oscillate toward the left. lVhen the operation of rotating cam `10 forces 'oar 24 to the left tending to move lever 22 to the left, the lower end of this lever is held against rotation by bar 17 and pivot 18, while its upper end is carried to swinging bar 29, and

wise direction to KAretard the spark of the engine. The speed of the latter is thus reduced sufficiently so that the terminal voltage of the generator 5 is returned to normal.

When an additional load is introduced into the circuit at 9, the engine slows down and the terminalvltage of the dynamo is decreased; whereupon the energization, of the solenoid is decreased, and me plunger 16 and bar 17 are allowed to fall -so as to' cause bar 24 to push the upper portion of lever 22 to the right and to rotate timer 12 in a counter clockwise direction, advancing the spark,- and speeding up the engine. Figs.' 4 and 5 show clearly the method of operation of the mechanism.

By this invention, then the timer control mechanism may be made responsive to ver-y small currents inasmuch as the solenoid has to exert only enough power to adjust. plunger 16 and bar 17, while the timer itself is positioned by the pressure which cam 10 during its rotation exerts. through extension 26 or 27, bar 24, lever 22, projection 21, bar 1T and pivot 18.

, For the arrangement as shown in Fig. 2, any mechanism which will accomplish the sameresult may be substituted. Fig. 6 shows one such arrangement. Here, a projection 21 on har 24 lits into opening 20 in bar 17 andl has a diametery approximately equal to the width of this opening. Bar 17 is attached to plunger 1G by means of a is so mounted at fixed pivot 18 thatit may oscillate horizontally a distance equal to the oscillation ot projection 21. Bar 17 has a second, and rectanguiar, opening 30 therein between plunger' 16 and opening 20. One side of a doublecrown wheel 31' projects into this opening. Its toothed edges are adapted to bear against either-a pawl 32 pointed in one direction upon a rod 35.

`and projecting from the upper side of opening 30, or'pawl 33v pointed in the other direction and projecting from the lower side of the opening 30.

screwed through a sleeve 36 pivoted on a fixed piece and attached to the timer 12 by means of a pin 38', so as to rotate the timer as it is screwed downwardly or upwardly.

The operation of this device is similar to that of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2. s bar 24 oscillat-es, it will cause the oscillation .ofbar 17. Then ythe vsolenoid 15 is lifting plunger 16, pawl 33 will bear against the bottom teeth of wheel 31,' and at each oscillation of har 17 will, for inst-ance, turn the wheel so that the rod will be screwed upwardly through sleeve 37 to turn the times in a clockwise direction. When on the other hand the solenoid is deenergized and allows the plunger to fall, the reverse will be true.

In order to compensate for the loss in Alever members so as to regulate the speed 'lVheel 31 is supported pulling power of the solenoid when it is 1. A prime mover, a dynamo electric machine driven thereby, a timer for the prime mover, means actuated by the shaft of the prime mover for imparting an advance or retard movement to said timer and an elec- -tro-magnet for controlling the eittent ofl movement of said timer, said electro-magnet being controlled by the voltage generated.

2. A. dynamo electric machine, an internal combustion engine for operating the dynamo electric machine, an electric circuit for the dynamo electric machine, a timer for the internal combustion engine, a voltage responsive solenoid across said circuit, a lever continuously oscillated by the engine shaft for moving thetimer for regulating'the terminal voltage of the dynamo, said lever being actuated in accordance with the energization 'of the solenoid.

3. In a prime mover dynamo plant, an internal combustion engine, a gener, tor driven thereby, an electric circuit for the generator, a timer for the engine, a cam member driven bythe engine and operating the timer, bar and lever membeis oscillated by the cam member and connected-to the periphery of the timer, a voltage responsive solenoid across said circuit operating a plunger, and la pivoted bar vmember attached to the plunger for adjusting the timer through the agency of the oscillations of the bar andi.:

the engine.

4. A dynamo electric machine, a prime mover to operate the dynamo electric machine, a timer mechanism or theD prime mover, a solenoid responsive to the'terminal voltageof the dynamo electric machine, means including the timer mechanism and the solenoid for regulating the speed of the prime mover and the terminal voltage in the tor, a timer for the engine, a cam member driven by the engine and operating the timer, bar 'and lever members operatedby the cam member and connected to the periphery of the. timer, a voltage responsive solenoid across said circuit operating a plun er, a pivoted bar member attached to the p unger for adjusting the timer through the agency of oscillations of the bar and lever members so 5 'as to regulate the speed of the engine and a bent barv of heat responsive metal attached to said pivoted bar member to overcome the effect of tempera-ture changes upon the solenoid.

In witnesswheeof, I hereunto subscribe 10 my name this 24th day of October A. D., 1922.

MERLE PEABODY CHAPLIN. 

